Eight-wheel truck



lNlail'l 4, E LA TSHAW EIGHT-WHEEL TRUCK Filed March e, 195e 1, @u n w Qn .l Y ml mlm am 1f /IIH/ n H E O lwn? m ALLA m m/r. m N O O a.. Q s NmY .m m. Sm, ./.B HU N N U www www HU EL APatented Mar. 4, 1941EIGHT-WHEEL TRUCK Elmer Latshaw, Philadelphia, Pa., assigner to The J.G. Briii Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication March 8, 1938, Serial No. 194,575

17 Claims.

This invention relates to railway trucks in general and in particular tolarge capacity trucks of the eight-wheel type.

In the past freight car trucks have been built in which a massiveH-formed bolster was used resting at its ends yupon the springs ofconventional four-wheel trucks. Eight-wheel passenger car trucks havelikewise been built of a somewhat similar design but with the large Hcasting resting upon the bolsters of the conventional four- ,wheeltraucks, thus giving a more flexible truck than was obtained for freightservice. In all of these trucks the overall length of the truck wasexcessive and the truck was exceptionally heavy due to the metal used inthe numerous bolsters and cross bearing members. It is an object,therefore, of this invention to provide an eight-wheel truck of simpledesign in which only a single bolster of conventional design and supportis used.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a `compacteight-wheel truck in which the side frames are formed with widely spacedpedestal jaws to 'accommodate double journal boxes.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a compacteight-wheel vtruck using twin journal boxes which of themselves serve asequalizers to distribute the load to the axles carried thereby.

80 A still further object of the invention isthe provision of a compacteight-wheel truck having clasp brakes with the adjacent shoes verticallystaggered in order that the overall dimensions of the truck willbesubstantially equal to those $3 ofthe conventional six-wheel truck.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent,to personsskilled in the art` from a study of the following description andaccompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevational View ofthe approved truck with a portion thereof broken away to more clearlydisclose the structure; Y

Fig. 2 is a plan view of substantially one-half 1 the truck shown inFigure 1, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 ofFigure 1'andshowing the bolster mounting and side frame constructionr Referringnow to the drawing 'in detail, it will be seen that the truck iscomposed of a frame unit A which is carried at its ends by twin journalboxes B mounted on wheel and axle assemblies C and has the conventionaltype of bolster D resiliently and swingably suspended from the frameunit. The truck frame in the present instance is shown as castin onepiece with heavy side pieces 2 joined together by end ties #i andintermediate transoms E, the latter being .flared as l in-order tostillen the transom and frame and to assist in transmitting the heavystrains from the transoms to the side frames. Each side piece 5 ispreferably cast with upper substantially nos: section members from whichdepend outer pedestal jaws I0 and inner pedestal jawsl2, the latterbeing connected by rigid box section tie I4, while the inner and outerpedestal jaws at i@ either end of the frame will be joined together inthe customary manner by bottom tie i6 bolted or otherwise secured inplace.

The twin journal box unit B is preferably cast or otherwise integrallyformed with conventional lli designed journal boxes I8 joined togetherby an upwardly opening channel-shaped tie 20 having the sides 22 spacedapart suiilciently to receive therebetween springs 24, the lower ends ofwhich rest Within seats 26 formed on the web of the 20 upwardly openingchannel, while the upper ends bear against spring seats 28 formedbyflared portions 3|! of the truck side units. Each of the pedestal jawsis provided with the usual wear pad 32 adapted to engage guide portions34 formed 25 on the ends of the twin journal box unit, there beingsufiicient clearance between the wear plates vand guides to permit aslight amount of lateral and fore and aft motion of the journai box unitrelative to the truck frame.

The transoms are provided adjacent their ends with upstanding ears '40between which are pivotally mounted links 42, the lower ends beingpivotally connected as at 44 to spring plank 55. The spring planksupports the lower portion of 35 a nest o1' elliptic springs 48, theupper portion bearing upon and supporting the ends of the bolster Dpreviously referred to. 'This bolster, as stated, is of substantiallyconventional design having center bearing 50, side bearings 52 and 40wear pads 54 adapted to engage vwear pads 56 formed on or secured to theinner surfaces of the transoms 6.

Clasp brakes are provided for the truck with' the inner and outer shoes58 and 60, respectively, 45 on each pair of Wheel and axle assemblieslocated and suspended in substantially the conventionai position andmanner. The inner or adjacent shoes 62 of each pair of wheel and axleassemblies are vertically staggered as clearly shown in 50 Figure 1 inorder that the spacing between the pairs of axles may be as close aspossible. thus permitting a decreased overall length of truclr. In anactual layout it has been shown that by staggering the adjacent brakeshoes and by elimi- 5t,

nation of the customary bolster between the end axles it has beenpossible to restrict the overall` dimension of the eight-wheel truck tothe dimensions of the conventional six-wheell truck.

Any load imposed upon the bolster center Y bearing il will betransmitted by the bolster to the nests of' elliptic springs and throughthem and the hangers to the truck frames from which the load will betransmitted through the coil springs to the twin journal boxesintermediate the wheel and axle assemblies upon which they aresupported. me to the fact that the load is transmitted by the coilsprings to the twin Vjourj nal box intermediate the axles, it is obviousthat this twin journal box will of itself act as'lan equalizer todistribute the loads as evenly as possible to the axles uponwhichthe'twin journal the invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is: Y l. In an eight wheel railway truck the combi-Anation of a pair oi' wheel and axle assemblies adjacent -each end 'ofthe truck, journal box units joining the adjacent axles together to formeach pair, truck side frames, spaced pedestal jaws securedto the sideframes and embracing the journal box units for joining the pairstogether, means resting on said journal box units for transferring loadthereto from said-side frames, and bolster means carried by thesideframes for transferring load thereto. Y

2. In an eight wheel railway truck the combi-` nation of a pair of wheeland axle assemblies adjacent each end of the truck, journal box unitsjoining the adjacent axles together to form each pair. truck sideframes, spaced pairs of pedestal jaws secured to each side frame andembracing the journal box units and joining the units together,resilient means supporting the truck frames upon the journal box units,and bolster means carried by the side frames for transferring loadthereto.

3. In an eight wheel"railway truck the combination of a pair of wheeland axle assemblies adjacent eachend of the truck, journal box unitsjoining the adjacent axles together to form each pair, spaced truck sideframes, transoms joining the sideframes, spaced pedestal jaws secured tothe side frames' and embracing the journal box units for joining thepairs together, means restin g on said journal box units fortransferring load thereto from said side frames, andbolster meansswingably carried by the transoms for trans-v ferring load to the sideframes.

4." In. an eight wheel railway truck the combination `oi' a pair ofwheel and axle assemblies ad- Y 'jacent cach endof the truck, journalbox units joining the adjacent axles together to formreach pair, truckside frames, transoms joining the side frames, spaced pedestal jawssecured to the side frames and, embracing the journal box units andjoining the units together, resilient means supporting the truck framesupon the journal box units, a spring plank swingably carried bythetransoms, and a bolster resiliently supported upon the spring plank.

transferringload thereto.

5. In an eight wheel railway truck the combination' of a pair of wheeland axle assemblies' adjacent each end ofthe trulk, -j'oumal -box unitsjoining the adjacent axles together to form each pair, truck sideframes, spaced pairs of pedestal jaws secured to each side frame andembracing the journal box units and joining the units vtogether,Vresilient means supporting the truck frames upon the journal box units,and bolster means resillently'carried bythe side frames for 6. In aneight wheel railway truck the combination of a pair oi' wheel and axleassemblies adjacent each end of the truck, a plurality-of pairs ofjournal boxes rigidly joined together to form a plurality of unitsconnecting the adjacent axles together and forming each pair of wheeland axle assemblies, truck side frames, spaced pairs of y pedestal jawssecured to each side frame and embracing the units and joining the unitstogether, resilient means supporting the.side frames upon the units, andbolster means resiliently supported Y A upon the' side frames fortransferring load thereto. Y

7. In an eight wheel railway truck thecombination of a pair ofwheel andaxle assemblies ad-k jacent each end oi' the truck, journal box unitsjoining the adjacent axles together to form'each secured to the sideframes and embracing the journal box units for joining the pairstogether,

resilient means located substantially centrally between the axles ofeach pair of wheel and axle' joining the adjacent axles together to formeachY pair, truck yside frames, spaced pedestal jaws secured to the sideframes and embracing 'the journal box units for joining the pairstogether, resilient means located between the axles of each pair ofwheel andaxle assemblies for supporting the truck frames upon thejournal box units, said resilient means permitting rocking of the unitsrelative to the side frames, andmeans for transferring load to the saidframes.

9. In an eight Wheel railway truck the combi;U

nation of a pair of wheelY and. axle assemblies adjacent each end of thetruck, journal box units joining the adjacent'axles together to formeach pair, truck side frames, spaced pedestal' jaws secured to the sideframes and embracing the journal box units for` joining the pairstogether, resilient means engaging said journal box units and said sideframes for the transfer of load therebetween, means carried by the sideframes for transferring load thereto and brake vshoes vengageable withthe wheels, certain oil said'brake shoes being located between vtheWheels of each pair and being ver `ically staggered whereby the wheelsmay be positioned closely adjacent each other to decrease the overalllength of the truck.

Y 10. In an eight wheel railway truck the combination of a pair off'wheel and axle assemblies adjacent each end f the truck, journal boxunits joining the adjacentv axles together to form each pair, truck sideframes, spaced pairs of pedestal box units and said side frames for thetransfer of load therebetween, .means carried byl'the side assegniframes for transferring load thereto, and brake shoes located betweenand engageable with the wheels oi each pair, said shoes being verticallystaggered whereby the wheels may be positioned closely adjacent eachother to decrease the overall length of the truck.

11. In an eight wheel railway truck the combinationv of a pair o! wheeland axle assemblies ad# jacent each end oi. the truck, journal box unitsjoining the adjacent axles together to form each pair, the wheels o!each pair being located closely adjacent each other whereby the lengthsof the journal box units and overall dimension of the truck may bereduced, truck side frames each having spaced pairs of pedestal jawsembracing the journal box units for joining the pairstogether, resilientmeans engaging said journal box units and said side frames for thetransfer of load therebetween, and means carried by the sideV frames fortransferring loads thereto.

l2. In an eight wheel railway truck the combination of a pair of wheeland axle assemblies adjacent each end of the truck, journal box unitsconnecting the adjacent axles together to form each pair, the wheels ofeach pair being located closely adjacent each other whereby the lengthsof the journal box units and overall dimension of the truck may bereduced, truck side frames having spaced pedestal jaws embracing thejournal box umts for joining the pairs together, resilient meanssupporting the side frames upon the journal box umts between the axlesoi each pair, and means resiliently carried by the side frames fortransferring loads thereto.

13. As an article of manufacture for railway trucks, a twin journal boxunit comprising spaced journal boxes having the adjacent sidesintegrally joined together, pedestal guide portions integrally formed onthe opposite .sides of the journal boxes, and spring seats formed on theunit intermediate the journal boxes.

14. As an article of manufacture for railway trucks, a twin journal boxunit comprising spaced journal boxes having the adjacent sidesintegrally joined together by an upwardly opening channel member,pedestal guide portions :formed on the opposite sides of the journalboxes, and spring seats integrally formed within the channel memberintermediate the journal boxes.

15. In an eight wheel railway truck the combination of a pair of wheeland axle assemblies adjacent each end ofthe truck. journal box umtsjoining the adjacent axles together to form each pair, the wheels ofeach pair being located closely adjacent each other whereby the lengthsof the Journal box units and overall dimension o! the truck maybereduced. spaced truck side frames, two pairs of spaced pedestal jawscanied by each side frame, each pairof pedestal jaws embracing a journalbox unit thereby joining said units together, resilient means supportingl the side frames upon the journal box units. and means carried by theside frames for transferring loadsto the side frames.

16. In an eight wheel railway truck the com= bination oi a pair of wheeland axle assemblies adjacent each endv oi the truck, journal bor. unitsjoining the adjacent axles together to form each pair, spaced truck sideframes, two pairs o1 spaced pedestal jaws secured to each side frame,each pair of pedestaljaws embracing a journal box unit thereby joining'said units together, resilient means supporting the side frames upon`the journal box units, bolster means carried by the side frames. fortransferring load to the frames, and brake shoes located betweenandengageable with the wheels of each pair, said shoes being verticallystaggered whereby the wheels ci? each pair may be positioned closelyadjacent each other to decrease the overall length of the truck.

17. In an eight wheel railway truck the come bination of a pair of wheeland axle assemblies adjacent each end oi' the truck, journal box unitsjoining the adjacent axles together to form each pair, the wheels ofeach pair being located closely adjacent each other whereby the lengthsof the journal box units and overall dimension of the truck may bereduced, spaced truck' side frames, two pairs of spaced pedestal jawscarl- ELDER. LATSHAW.

